Pope's health raises concerns

2005-03-28 12:42

Vatican City - The dramatic failure of Pope John Paul II to speak during his Easter blessing has left the faithful and Vatican watchers worried for his health but also for the health of the Roman Catholic Church.

More than 70 000 people in St Peter's square - and millions across the world watching Easter Sunday mass live on television - saw the 84-year-old pope make a few gasping sounds but fail to address the crowd in his traditional blessing.

"It was so overwhelming," said Shoba Rami of Malaysia as she recalled the pope's appearance.

Many others who were in St Peter's square were brought to tears by the pontiff's 15-minute appearance at the window of his apartments - his longest public appearance since he was first taken to hospital on February 1.

Ana Chamarro of Spain said she was pained for the pope, but also worried that his appearances weakened her church.

"If the pope continues to appear so weak, we worry for our church. The Catholic church is going to have to take a decision," she said.

For Vatican expert Giancarlo Zizola, the personal tragedy of John Paul II has become a "theological tragedy" because those surrounding the pope are "not capable of resignation" and have forgotten that even the pope is a human being.

'Institutional illness'

More dangerous still, the church is witnessing an "institutional tragedy", Zizola said.

"The silent scene of the pope is a metaphor of an institutional illness," Zizola said on Monday. "Yesterday more than ever, it became obvious that a church that touches a billion people across the world cannot rest on the shoulders of a single man."

Even prior to Sunday's poignant appearance, some had begun to voice their concern over a power vacuum at the top of the church. The pope, who suffers from Parkinson's disease, has not spoken publicly since his discharge from hospital on March 13.

Dissident Catholic theologian Hans Kung said on Saturday that John Paul II's battle with frail health was damaging the church.

"The situation of the church is serious. The pope is seriously ill and deserves every compassion. But the church must live," Kung said.

Vatican cardinals insist that the pope, who they say is able to speak in private, is completely lucid and is still governing the church.

But Zizola said the cardinals were keeping this line "to cover the fact that it is the Vatican cardinals that are governing and the pope is reduced to a mere image".

Regardless of the longterm effects of the pope's illness, many said this Easter would be remembered for the pope's obvious suffering.

It was the first time in his 26-year pontificate that John Paul II was forced to delegate the major ceremonies of Easter - the most solemn of the Christian calendar.

This year's event will be remembered "as an Easter full of sadness and tenderness for the pope", said Italian Cardinal Achille Silvestrini.

- AFP